Post date: Dec 4, 2016 2:10:55 AM
Math 7H Period 1
SOLs Covered: 8.15b Inequalities
Math Unit: #11 Inequalities
Daily Agenda: November 28-December 2, 2016
CCPS Student Digital Resource: Inequalities
Upcoming Assessments: Units 9-11 Test (Fri. 12/2)
MSM2 Period 3 & 4
SOLs Covered: 7.14ab & 8.15a Equations
Math Unit: #10 One-Step Equations; #11 Two- & Multi-Step Equations
Daily Agenda: November 28-December 2, 2016
CCPS Student Digital Resource: Equations
Upcoming Assessments: Two- & Multi-Step Equations Quiz (Wed. 12/7)
After School Help Session: Tues. 12/6, 3-4PM
Howdy folks! Before we get started, I'd like to give everyone a heads up that I have to be out this upcoming Thursday as my mother is having minor surgery that day. I'm in the process of setting up sub plans and already have a substitute lined up who knows math (she's wrapping up her degree to become a math teacher herself), but I wanted everyone to know since it will likely take me a little more time to respond to any emails later in the week. Please still feel free to email though. Now onto the math.
Some of the 7H class needed to wrap up their multi-step equations quiz before we got started on inequalities. Overall they've done a good job, but some students are still making minor mistakes when they don't take their time and/or don't check their work. On top of the same types of mistakes that can be made with equations, inequalities also have the added twist that when multiplying or dividing by a negative, the inequality symbol flips. Additionally, students must also be able to graph inequalities but again can make small mistakes when drawing the arrow for the graph or not paying attention to whether the circle needs to be open (greater/less than) or closed (greater/less than or equal to). I'll be putting a little extra emphasis on these things when we wrap up or multi-unit review on Monday before we get started on the algebra test.
I did a little extra review of one-step equations with the MSM2 students but with a new outlook after I remembered a little trick I used with students once in the past. The kids had been having trouble understanding that the whole purpose for solving equations is to isolate the variable, determining it's value. To help the kids understand this, I told them that the variable is the "diva" of algebra, refusing to share it's "dressing room" with anyone else; "fans" (constants and coefficients) can come and visit, but the "diva" will send them away. This has made the concept finally click for the kids and made it a bit more interesting than algebra generally has a tendency to be. We also made a foldable card, which made the introduction of two-step equations much easier once we'd finished the one-step quiz. The kids have had an easier time with two-steps using these extra bits from earlier in the week. We'll wrap up two-step equations and get a little preview of higher level multi-step equations at the beginning of next week before we take the next quiz.
Well, that about covers things, so I'll wrap things up here. I hope everyone has a great weekend!